Ten young lads graduated with distinction last week from a BoxFit programme run by Te Puke Police.
In an effort to build relationships with youth at risk around Te Puke, police iwi liaison officer Tawhai Norman gathered the names of youngsters, from the high school and other sources, who might benefit
from a fitness-based confidence programme.
Over the past year about 40 youngsters have been part of four six-week courses run every Friday night in the Baptist Church gymnasium by a personal trainer Steve Jennings and several police officers including Constables Norman, Rameka Poihipi, Justin McDowell and Sergeant Mike Owen, with support from Senior Sergeant Deidre Lack.
Members of the Baptist congregation also had a hand in setting up and assisting the programme. Their youth trust found money for boxing gloves and to met other costs.
"This programme started after a chat with Ed Pollard," says Constable Norman. "He really made all the rest fall into place. He and others from the church went so far as to drive the boys home at night after training.
"We asked only commitment from the boys and told their parents and carers there would be no cost to them.
"The boys here tonight are the ones who didn't go away after their six-week course. They wanted to keep training and many of them became mentors to the new boys on the courses that followed theirs," says Tawhai.
The graduates were: Robertson and Deveraux Whareaorere, Clay Weston, Rauora Takuira Mita, Nesta Kitisene, Luke Heybloom, Luke Diprose, Atana Tarawa, Mikaere Armstrong and Iehu Kokiri.
The guest speaker who presented the certificates was Senior Sergeant Warwick Morehu from Rotorua. The boys had decided they wanted "a big dude" to do the job.
Mr Morehu congratulated the boys on their achievements and Constable Norman on the success of the programme.
The Western Bay police area commander, Inspector Mike Clement, attended the graduation. Western Bay deputy mayor Paul Thomas represented Te Puke Community Board which contributed to the graduation dinner at Rangiuru Sports Club.
